Feb '00
Dennis Funny - Trying to make it happen

DJF

During grade school my parents were separated & later divorced, we moved several times, making my twin sister & I, the eternal new kids on the block (laughing). I attended Alexander Hamilton High School, alma mater of Giancarlo Esposito. I later attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in Upstate NY, where I pledged the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, and earned a BS in Civil Engineering. I've always had an interest in acting, but I pursued engineering because I had a very strong math background and at the time there was a big push to get people of color into the field. My father (founder of the Westchester Minority Contractors Assoc.) an engineer as well, runs a construction company that my grandfather & grandmother started. My mom has her own business as well. She makes custom woman's clothing (Miss NC-Ms. America Pageant.) Both sides of my family have the entrepreneurial spirit. After graduation, I moved to Brooklyn and worked in engineering for a year. Looking for a change I got my foot in the door on Wall Street and went through the training program at Lehman Brothers and later worked at another large firm at the World Financial Center. I've been a people person all my life and realized I had a niche when 300 people showed up at my apartment for a post college housewarming. People still talk about that party here in New York (laughing). Everyone knows that we don't have a lot of options when it comes to entertainment - that's a fact.

That's how I initially became involved in the club scene here in New York City putting together different upscale private & public events (A HREF="mailto:EventsByDJF@djfunny.com">EventsByDJF@djfunny.com) targeted, but not limited to, people of color (Black & Latino) and later fundraisers as well. The first was for a friend, now Memphis Congressman, Harold Ford, Jr., during his run for the Democratic nomination. Winsome Sinclair helped get me in a PE video, a video for the soundtrack of an independent film, and later her assistants cast me in a small role in the opening club scene of Hype Williams' Belly, but unfortunately I was cut out.

DJF

I recently completed filming a Warner Bros. football epic,Any Given Sunday. Oliver Stone's all-encompassing look at post-modern society through the dynamic prism of professional sports. It was shot on location in Miami and Dallas. The film stars actor/rapper L.L. Cool J, comedian Jamie Foxx, football greats Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, and Oscar Winner Al Pacino. From the reviews and box-office receipts, it appears that people really liked it.

DJF

I have a small role where I play a member of the team, Jose Giles #47. He is part of the crew that is intensely playing the game and living life to the fullest. He provides a lot of support for his teammates and is always in the mix. He is very intense but very diverse as well.

DJF

I wouldn't say we spent a lot of time together but we were shooting on location in Miami for three months and Dallas for three weeks. He is very wise and dynamic. He's also 63 years old and built like a mountain of steel. He has a lot of intensity and wisdom. We still have an unfinished game of chess, I think I might have been winning (laughing). The actors played a lot on the set between takes.

DJF

Anyone who is still in the business, including myself (laughing). I don't think there is one particular person. I admire people who put in the hard work and long hours in this business to make it happen. Overcoming personal, as well as professional issues to become successful. The bottom line is that work needs to be done and you must be ready and focused no matter what. Someone in general who gets up and goes to work and DOES there job, is someone I admire.

DJF

What we do know is that there is a shortage of jobs on both sides of the camera. If it's not there for us, then we need to help make it happen. Whether supporting or gathering more support for Black film projects, we have got to push forward. I commend Malcolm Lee and all the other pioneers, their work say's it all. There is a demand. I'm up for that challenge. No one obviously can do it all but we can all do something. I just finished a project with Julian Williams called Waiting for My Bronco, about a Senegalese man who comes to NYC in search of his dream. I play one of his new friends, "B-Fly", an aspiring rapper.

DJF

Definitely the New York lifestyle to anything else, but I love to travel. NYC keeps me on my toes, you can' t be lazy and make it here. If you work hard, eventually you can play hard.

DJF

It's not a part time job. I believe to be successful you have to be organized while constantly doing things to make yourself better and more efficient. Also, make a rule: Do at least something for yourself and someone else, EVERYDAY.

DJF

I just finished a 20 minute short (public service project for abusive relationships.), with "Our Gang Prod." Out of Brooklyn. My baby is www.ClubAid.com, launching early November. This is a project involving clubs and the hottest DJ's in New York City, LA, South Beach, Philly, Chicago, Toronto as well as other major cities to assist in aiding World Poverty, with a focus on our country and NYC since this is where I dwell. This event will be broadcast live early December on, www.MochaNetwork.com (media entertainment website-launching , late Nov). Some advertisers have already stepped up to the plate, knowing that they MUST commit to assisting some of the social programs that are being implemented with this project. I enjoy acting, traveling, cigars, gadgets, rollerblading, reading, hip hop, salsa, scuba, yoga, paintball, basketball, photography, cooking, movies and sword combat.

DJF

Helen Keller said, " Life is an Adventure, or Nothing"